Getting married in Italy | legal requirements for British citizens

Getting married in Italy: legal requirements for British citizens

How long do you need to be in Italy before getting married?

Can a divorced woman get married in Italy?

Will the International Wedding Certificate be given to the bridal couple after the Ceremony?

British citizens living in England – LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

 

Step 1 – Certificate of No Impediment

You need to obtain what’s called a Certificate of No Impediment, which is issued in the UK. To do this you must give notice of marriage to your local registry office. After your notice has been posted for the required period you will be issued with a ‘Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage’, signed and dated by your local Registrar. It is essential that the names you give to the Registrar, which will appear on your Certificates of No Impediment, are exactly the same as written in your passports. For example, Jim Harris on the Certificate, and James Harris-Ford on your passport might mean that the Italian authorities will reject your paperwork and refuse to allow the marriage to go ahead. Please take your passport with you to the Registry Office, just to be absolutely certain.  

Step 2 – The Statutory Declaration

While you are waiting for your Certificate of No Impediment you should make a statutory declaration before a solicitor or public notary in the UK. You can down load the declaration here https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/153753/bilingual-statutory-declaration.pdf The declaration is required by the Italian authorities and gives additional information that isn’t detailed on your Certificate of No Impediment. The solicitor or public notary will charge a fee for this service. Fees will vary so it might be worth shopping around.  

Step 3 – Legalising your documents for the Italian authorities

When you have your Certificate of No Impediment and you have made your Statutory Declaration, you need to send them both to the FCO Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes for each to be legalised with a Hague Apostille. The Legalisation Office will charge for this – please check the current charges and procedure on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Website.  

Step 4 – Translation of your Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) and Apolistille stamps

Once both these documents have been legalised, you will then need to have the legalised Certificate of No Impediment translated. As it will become an Italian legal document it should be officially translated by an Official translator and sworn before the Italian courts or an Italian Justice of the Peace. Local Town Halls also request the translation of the Apostille. Each British national resident in the UK should have:

• A Certificate of No Impediment – issued in the UK, legalised in the UK and then translated officially in Italy
• A bilingual Statutory Declaration legalised in the UK
• Passport
• Any further documents specifically requested by your Comune (town hall) of marriage.

 

In How many months the Certificate of No Impediment expires? 

The Certificate of No Impediment will be valid for six months from the date on your English, Welsh or Northern Irish CNI The Certificate of No Impediment will be valid for three months if presenting a Scottish CNI.  

British citizens not living in England – LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

Getting married abroad – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)